MLB

This weekend, the New York area will once again be enthralled with a yearly spectacle. That spectacle is the Subway Series. That is the name given to the series of games between the now defending champion New York Yankees and the lovable amazin's , the New York Mets .

This modern day version of the series first started in 1997. The first two years were just a three game series per season.

New York’s two franchises had remarkably different 2009 seasons. The Yankees, with their shiny new free agent additions in Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett, ran away with the American League East and came away with their 27th World Series championship, beating the Phillies in six games.

For Mets fans, the 2009 season was a nightmare, as Mets players, including eight former All-Stars, spent more than 1,480 days on the disabled list as the team limped to a 72-90 record.

Odds were, Tim Lincecum had to have a bad game at least once this season. Tonight against Arizona was one of them.

Five earned runs for a starter in five innings (for a game ERA of 9.00 as opposed to his season average of 1.76) usually results in a loss even for teams with far greater offensive firepower than San Francisco (as
it did tonight).

Yet after spotting the Diamondbacks five runs in the bottom of the fifth, Lincecum was suddenly (albeit briefly) in position to win the game after the Giants offense erupted for a five-run sixth to go on top 7-5.

The Detroit Tigers are fresh off two wins in M.C. Hammer's old stomping grounds—Oakland, Cal.

In Seattle, Mariners fans refer to young starting pitcher Felix Hernandez as King Felix.

Derek Jeter is a first ballot Hall Of Famer. There is no evidence that Jeter is even interested in the hit record. However, if he averages 188 hits per season for the next nine seasons (including this one), he can pull it off.

Jeter is ahead of Rose's pace now. It would be fun to watch someone challenge a great record like this. It also would be nice if the hit king was eligible to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

Here is why it won't happen.

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I have to preface this by saying that I have totally and fully jumped onto the Sabermetric bandwagon. I know I'm late with it, but I am hooked.

There is still a lot I have to learn in the intricacies of the endless list of stats that didn't exist 15 years ago (for instance the difference between WPA-win probability added and VORP-Value over a replacement player, they seem like they are measuring the same thing).

Anyway, I had to preface with that because I have become fascinated with one stat in particular, clutch.

The Rockies are in Houston to play the Astros. After the first game of the series, on Wednesday, the Houston Astros placed second baseman Kaz Matsui on waivers.

With the Rockies struggles at second, specifically Clint Barmes, and his line of .214/.273/.339/.612 plus his four errors already on the short season, many fans are wondering and dreaming about the glory days of 2007 and wondering if Kaz is an answer.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Maybe.

Did anyone wonder why the Astros waited until after their first game to release Matsui?

If nothing else, the 2010 edition of the Toronto Blue Jays may be the most exciting team in Baseball.

Off to their second best start in 15 years, this year the team isn't using smoke and mirrors or benefiting from mediocre play from the Yankees and Red Sox.

They are literally HAMMERING their way to a 25-17 record—good enough for third in the AL East and a mere one game behind the Yankees for the AL Wild Card.

With power arms and even more powerful bats, this team is starting to make the rest of the league take notice.

Can the Blue Jays maintain this torrid pace?